Utah Spousal Support/Maintenance/Alimony Factors

In Utah the support payments (if any) can certainly influence how the marital property distribution is awarded, which is why it can become a very intricate part of the final outcome of any divorce. Keeping this in mind, if you and your spouse are unable to reach and agreement on this issue, the District Court will order support from one spouse to the other on a case-by-case basis as follows:

The court shall consider at least the following factors in determining the length of time and amount of alimony to be awarded: (1) the financial condition and needs of the recipient spouse; (2) the earning capacity or income potential; (3) the reasonability of the paying spouse to pay; (4) the duration of the marriage; (5) whether the recipient spouse has custody of minor children requiring support; (6) whether the recipient spouse worked in a business owned or operated by the payor spouse; and (7) whether the desiring spouse contributed to the earning capacity of the paying spouse. The court may consider the marital misconduct of the parties in determining alimony. (Utah Code - Sections: 30-3-3, 30-3-5)